St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-23
MACHINERY AND OIL.
The Master Mechanics Discuss
Various Questions.


mechanics convention was called to
order, but the delegates were just as
ready to discuss technical subjects as
though they had not spent the greater
part of the night preceding in STUDYING
the intricacieS of the lanciers and waltz.
The annual report of Secretary Setehel
was read. 1t showed that since the last
report twenty-eight full members and
one associate member had been adj
united to the association, five have re-
signed, twelve have been dropped from
the rolls for nOn-payment of dues, one
has been expelled, four full members
have been made honorary members, and
five have died. The association now
has 25l full members, IL associate and
IA honorary members, making total
OF 270 members.
Donations have been received to the
amount of $72S; receipts from dues,
Sl,l9S; receipts from the sale of reports,
SoS.35; total, S1.97S.35. This amount
has been turned over to the treas
urer. Treasurer Richards report
showed the following: Cash on hand,
S453.71; received from the secretary,
Sl,97S.35; tai, 80, 1920 I; disbursements,
4.5i; balance, S4g7. %. Papers. pre-
paped by committees on the following
subjects were read by the secretary:
proportion of Locomotive Cylinders
Traction lncreaSers," 'CroSS-HeadS and
Guide Bars" Steam Packing" Ali of
the papers, although filled with appar-
entity dry technical points, were OF UNI
usual interest to the delegates MIR.
Berford propounded the question, What
Is the average number of miles that can
safely be run with a pint of lubricating
orr He thought Seventy-five miles a
fair average, but he had heard OF en-
glneS running 160 miles and he inquired
If it could be
DONE WITH SAFETY. -
Secretary Setchel said that question
depended entirely upon circumstances.
The amount OF water in the boiler and
the grade OF the road made all the diff
| ference Ill the world. He thought
seventy five miles was fair average.
| Mr.. Mckenzie said he considered IlG
miles a fair average on comparatively
level road. Mir. HatSwell said he had
run al engine as far as 800 miles on a
test, still as a regular thing he run only
about fifty-eight miles. Mir. Briggs said
that the use of proper lubricatorS made
great saving. In 1883 his oil cost him
ON an average 81 cents per 100 miles, but
he introduced improved lubricators, and
In 1885 the cost was only 81 cents per
lOO miles. This seemed incredible to a
large number of the delegates. The
subject was still further discussed. but
no satisfactory conclusion was arrived
at and the subject Of increased pressure
was taken up: The discussion was
opened by Mr.. Lauder. He thought il
advisable to increase the pressure. The
power OF passenger engine is her ca
paclty to make steam. This capacity
may be increased without making the
engine heavier or the cylinders larger.
Mr.. Morrison believed the time was near
at hand when 200 or 225 pounds pres
sure will be used, but the steam must
be superheated. The subject was still
further discussed, and Mr., Ames intro
duced -.
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
Resolved, That it is the. sense Of this con-
Nenuon that 1t is not advisable to increase
the boiler pressure of engines beyond 50
pounds per square inch for freight service.
The discussion will, however be discussed
further before the resolution il mt 70 tSa
house.
The chairman then announced To the
convention that the Strong engine was
III the city and the members were in
Ylted to inspect her and enjoy an excur-
sion behind 1er, to see what She is caDa-
BILE of performing. Mr.. Strong, the in
Vent0r, was called upon, and he said
that he had worked for seven years to
perfect an engine which he knows is
capable of hauling train of twelve
loaded cars at the rate of sixty miles
per hour, and he desired the members
TO see what the engine might perform.
The following committees were an
pointed by the chairman:
On next place of meeting. Messrs.
Swanson, Hackney and Kohlsat. On
resolutions, Messrs. Garrett, Smart and
Blackwell. Committee to meet a SINH
lar committee from the master car
builders and wheel builders, to discuss
improvements in the manufacture of
wheels, MeSsrS. nStevens, Lauder and
Meeliam. The convention adjourned at
2o'clOck to meet ain in the morning
at clock, when the discussions will
be continued. In the afternoon. the
delegates drove about the city ard a
number of them visited. the Northern
Pacific shops at Como.
Yesterday afternoon a special train
supplied by the Northern Pacific rail
road took about 125 of the delegates to
the convention of the master meehan-.
les to Como to view the extensive shoDs
and plant Of that road, after which
test OF the Brooks patent ear and loco
motive trucks was made Ill the presence
OF all by running car equipped with
that device at a high rate of speed into
an open switch. The test proved a sue
cess, demonstrating the impossibility of
the train so equipped leaving the road
bed after being derailed through any
common cause of accident, and pro-
nOuncing itself valuable adoption to ]
all passenger service ears and loeomo-
tiyeS.